fast detailing?

[shuddleston]

I just don`t think you can do 2-3 details in 8 hours maybe 2 if you had a crew. I am like you I did one and interior of another for the same customer in one day and that`s all I am good for. Do you have an older child? I bring my 15 soon to be 16 year-old son with me on all details saving me time and giving him money I would have to give to him anyway if he didn`t have a job. I still have to go behind him until he grasps my concept for detail but saves time still.

[RaskyR1]

ivopivo,
I use the pour spout and big waffle weave MF drying process on cars that are already polished and waxed. On cars that are ready to get polished I use the blade and a small mf! I have been using the blade for a while now, I now some people don`t like it, but it works for me. As for the clay well if i raised my prices mybe i could put the time in to add the step.



troy,
thanks for the info, and I know you are very knowledgeable on the subject. How do I explain to customers that I`ll charge them 200 hundred dollars for a complete package, when the car wash charges 60, 80 100, on the side to detail or speed wax it.

I feel I need to separate myself from the bunch! Thanks.

By simply explaining what you do different, and how much more time you invest into the job. If the customer only wants the $60, 80, 100 job that the shop down the road offers, then offer the same amount of service they do with a little more attention to detail. I can just about guarantee they are not spending 8 hours on a car and doing the amount of work you are doing.

I just don`t think you can do 2-3 details in 8 hours maybe 2 if you had a crew. I am like you I did one and interior of another for the same customer in one day and that`s all I am good for. Do you have an older child? I bring my 15 soon to be 16 year-old son with me on all details saving me time and giving him money I would have to give to him anyway if he didn`t have a job. I still have to go behind him until he grasps my concept for detail but saves time still.

When I used to work at a high volume shop I, along with the other workers, would get 3-4 cars done in a work day each on average (8-10hr days). This was the same at all 4 high volume shops I`ve either worked at or managed over the years. I can assure you that the level of quality was no where near what I do today working on my own, as well as some of the other high end detailrs.


It`s all about providing a service that the customer is looking for.

[PerroneFord]

How do I explain to customers that I`ll charge them 200 hundred dollars for a complete package, when the car wash charges 60, 80 100, on the side to detail or speed wax it.

I did a job a few weeks ago for a friend. Her husband had begrudgingly taken his car to the hand wash place for a detail. He was NOT happy when he got it back. When I delivered their car (I did a pickup/dropoff service for them), I opened the hood, trunk, and all doors.

I showed them to door shuts and hinges, the trunk lid, the underside of the hood, the rain gutters at the trunk, the spare tire, etc. I ran my finger along all those surfaces so they could see it was clean.

Invite any of your customers who`ve recently gotten one of those "details" at the local shop to open the door, hood, trunk, etc. and do what I did. The difference is obvious.

Another customer had long ago let a tube of ben-xxx or some other linament melt in their glovebox. It had never been cleaned out properly. They shared this in our consultation prior to the detail. I made sure to correct this. It took some strong APC, some scrapers, and some patience to get it out of there and kill the smell. But that customer was THRILLED to have her glovebox back.

It`s those kinds of things that make the details worth it in my view. Shiny paint is shiny paint to most customers. But personal touch is something that is sorely missing in those fast details.

During a consultation on a Porsche last weekend, I noticed the customer had his sunroof open. As I examined the tracks, I saw a lot of dirt and grit. I asked if the service dept. had cleaned the tracks. He said no. I said, don`t worry, I`ll take care of that for you. That is not part of a standard detail, but it`s something I saw that can and will be addressed. That gentleman knows he is going to get his money`s worth from me.

Differentiate yourself with quality, attention to detail, and customer service. People ARE willing to pay when they know it`s going to be right. That`s why I say 4-6 hours for external details with no correction. Or 10-12 with correction. I charge by the job, not the hour so I can take my time and do what needs to be done.

I don`t care for volume work. I care about quality work. And I`d rather do 4 cars a month to the best of my ability, than 30 cars a month on quickie jobs even though that may pay better.

[RaskyR1]

I did a job a few weeks ago for a friend. Her husband had begrudgingly taken his car to the hand wash place for a detail. He was NOT happy when he got it back. When I delivered their car (I did a pickup/dropoff service for them), I opened the hood, trunk, and all doors.

I showed them to door shuts and hinges, the trunk lid, the underside of the hood, the rain gutters at the trunk, the spare tire, etc. I ran my finger along all those surfaces so they could see it was clean.

Invite any of your customers who`ve recently gotten one of those "details" at the local shop to open the door, hood, trunk, etc. and do what I did. The difference is obvious.

Another customer had long ago let a tube of ben-xxx or some other linament melt in their glovebox. It had never been cleaned out properly. They shared this in our consultation prior to the detail. I made sure to correct this. It took some strong APC, some scrapers, and some patience to get it out of there and kill the smell. But that customer was THRILLED to have her glovebox back.

It`s those kinds of things that make the details worth it in my view. Shiny paint is shiny paint to most customers. But personal touch is something that is sorely missing in those fast details.

During a consultation on a Porsche last weekend, I noticed the customer had his sunroof open. As I examined the tracks, I saw a lot of dirt and grit. I asked if the service dept. had cleaned the tracks. He said no. I said, don`t worry, I`ll take care of that for you. That is not part of a standard detail, but it`s something I saw that can and will be addressed. That gentleman knows he is going to get his money`s worth from me.

Differentiate yourself with quality, attention to detail, and customer service. People ARE willing to pay when they know it`s going to be right. That`s why I say 4-6 hours for external details with no correction. Or 10-12 with correction. I charge by the job, not the hour so I can take my time and do what needs to be done.

I don`t care for volume work. I care about quality work. And I`d rather do 4 cars a month to the best of my ability, than 30 cars a month on quickie jobs even though that may pay better.

[RyansAutoDetail]

this is the reason two years ago i started this small and now i am charging roughly $20 hourly in most of my detailing packages

for me i also do not touch the engine or do headlights or taillights or chrome exhaust tips as i just cannot do any extras but i do do the basics .

for me without polishing or even doing anything to the paint i could easily take up to 6 hours on a wash and full interior detail which would cost about $120 but on average the interior package alone i spend about 4 hours on and i charge roughly $70

for a full 8 hour detail with polish u could be charging at least $150 .... where i am charging $170 for up to 9 hours but i could even charge more once i get the demand up !

[PerroneFord]

Again,

I don`t want to misconstrue anything here. I am *not* a professional detailer. I do this as a hobby only. My approach was to spend a year working on my car, and friend`s cars. After learning from that, and investing in the tools, I decided to approach others about doing their cars. So I asked myself what cars I would enjoy detailing, and then approached car clubs that specialized in those cars about detailing.

Between the 3 or 4 car clubs, I am going to have more business than I can handle. In fact, what has happened is that the members have asked me not only to do those cars, but their daily drivers as well. All told, I am probably looking at a group of 100-150 cars per year. FAR more than I can do. I am to do good work, charge a fair price (for me as well as the customer) and give the cars the care I`d like to see taken of my own. If they should have reason to take their car to a pro detailer, I`d hate to think that I had turned over poor work to them.

Places like this have been invaluable to my learning, to avoiding mistakes, and to doing research on various vehicles and the processes that make the detailing possible. I still research every car I am about to do on Hemmings, Edmunds, Ebay, and similar sites. I want to see what the vehicle looks or looked like in new condition. I want to see every surface possible and how I would detail it. I want to look at areas that will need taping, etc.

I also know when to say no. I turned down a job on a classic car last night with 30 year old paint. I told the owner I`d attempt it once I bought a PTG and not before. With my current work levels, I should be able to buy one by the end of the month, so that detail may happen sooner rather than later.

There are a great many ways to differentiate yourself. Find a niche and be the best at it. For me, it will be specializing in daily driven British and German classic cars, Porsches, Mustangs, and the occasional oddball. That is as much as I care to do.

[Troy@Protekt]

troy,
thanks for the info, and I know you are very knowledgeable on the subject. How do I explain to customers that I`ll charge them 200 hundred dollars for a complete package, when the car wash charges 60, 80 100, on the side to detail or speed wax it.

I feel I need to separate myself from the bunch! Thanks.

I was saying $200 a day, not necessarily $200 per car.

To answer your question (already answered well but you asked me so that`s why I`m answering) - Does a steak house have to explain to you why their steak is worth more than the local McDonald`s hamburger? Get a portfolio and let it do the talking. My business is fueled by word of mouth and people looking at my website. I do nothing more to promote myself and rarely do I have to explain why I cost more than them anymore.

Say quite plainly, "My service is better and you will benefit from choosing my service over the cheaper car wash details. Here`s why..."

[Bobcat]

Let me say this, I`m a part time detailer, my regular job is ok, pay and bennies are good but it`s not as rewarding as seeing a customer smile at their car like they`re looking at hot chick. I started out reading a half dozen forums and e-mailing anybody that would help me. I ordered way too much "wonder goo" or the product in vogue in the forum at the time. But, I practiced, I learned, I started trading stuff with other detailers so I could try things and not blow my budget. I learned you do not have to spend a fortune on this. The greatest thing I`ve learned (and something my wife told me early on) LISTEN to and understand the customer first! I tried to polish every turd daily driver I got like it was some Pebble Beach show queen. And you can`t charge some average Joe for that, heck, he just wanted a clean car. I`d say that once I stopped giving flat rate for a detail (my estimating sucks) and started charging by the hour - with the understanding of how long it might take (always pad the time, that way you look great when the job is less than they thought) detailing became much more profitable.

OK - in case you`re wondering, my technique:

Clean wheels/rims
Wash car
Clay
Spot compound the RIDS
Polish
LSP
Dress tire
Interior: vac, wipe down, clean glass, (extra for cleaning carpet/seats)

On cheapies - replace the spot compound & Polish with Megs 151

I charge 20-25 per hour and it`s cash only amigo!

[dr_detail]

could also look at it this way....

Lets say you find and pay a helper $10/hr or $80/day (closer to $100 with taxes & ins -- but lets keep it simple). Two people working together almost always can get 2.5 times the work done in an hour as one. With this in mind, and with some practice, what you outlined could be done in 2-3 hours. Now focus on lining up 3 cars a day....

see how it works??

For me though, I`m with Troy. The gardener that comes around my area is done with a house in less than 15 minutes (has one helper). He charges $100 and up a month for his weekly services. He does six houses just on my block and is gone in about an hour. I`ve seen him on another clients street where they`re in and out with four houses faster than I wash a car. All this equates to somewhere in excess of $100/hour....Not bad for a guy who barely speaks "engrish."

Now, ask yourself this -- if the no-brainer, push a mower, run a weed whacker, turn on the blower person is worth $100/hour for his services -- what`s the person worth that takes care of car???

Man I am in the wrong line of work :lol

[Troy@Protekt]

could also look at it this way....

Lets say you find and pay a helper $10/hr or $80/day (closer to $100 with taxes & ins -- but lets keep it simple). Two people working together almost always can get 2.5 times the work done in an hour as one. With this in mind, and with some practice, what you outlined could be done in 2-3 hours. Now focus on lining up 3 cars a day....

It`s been my experience that you can`t do twice the amount of work much less 2.5 times with a helper. In order to more than cut your work time in half he would have to be faster than you right?

It`s hard to find a good one. I know with me they tend to stand around while you do things like rinse the car instead of keeping busy no matter how well I try to train them.

One more thing to think about with this business. I could never send an employee(s) out to do a job without me unless it was some sort of fleet job. There are just too many ways for him to hurt your business.

With other service businesses like have been mentioned in most cases customer interaction isn`t necessary and being detail minded isn`t as important.

Am I doing a good job of discouraging people from entering this business?

By all means if you love detailing, jump in. I`m just trying to get people thinking about the minuses as well as the pluses.

[cheapshot]

So much good infomation ont this thread!

Keep it going!

[Coastal Eddie]

It`s been my experience that you can`t do twice the amount of work much less 2.5 times with a helper. In order to more than cut your work time in half he would have to be faster than you right?

It`s hard to find a good one. I know with me they tend to stand around while you do things like rinse the car instead of keeping busy no matter how well I try to train them.

One more thing to think about with this business. I could never send an employee(s) out to do a job without me unless it was some sort of fleet job. There are just too many ways for him to hurt your business.

With other service businesses like have been mentioned in most cases customer interaction isn`t necessary and being detail minded isn`t as important.

Am I doing a good job of discouraging people from entering this business?

By all means if you love detailing, jump in. I`m just trying to get people thinking about the minuses as well as the pluses.

You make a good point about a helper being faster than you, but I`ve found that the ones who are at least as fast as me are acceptable. I usually have more than one employee, and the ones that are the most valuable, and last the longest with me are the ones who are the most interested in what we`re doing. The very best employees are the ones that are always one or 2 steps ahead of you, and I`ve been so lucky in that regard!!

In this business "control" is important. I feel it my absolute duty to be there on every job we do, and that includes fleets. You`re not going to hear from a customer, (fleet or private) unless somebody screws up, so it`s my feeling that if I`m there, there`s less chance for mistakes. Mistakes are made though, and when they are, I take the blame. There are many ways to get in trouble when doing fleets, but over time, fleets is where the money`s at.

The best helpers are kids in college!!! Treat them right, pay them good, and they will adjust their schedules around you - and when they graduate or move on, there are always others looking for a shot.

The word "longevity" is used on this site a lot. Detailing/washing vehicles as a career is not an easy
way to make a living, but depending on ones motivation, PR skills, and a little luck, it can be very rewarding. I always say this, but if I had it to do over again, I`D SIT ON MY BUTT AND SELL PRODUCT!!

[cheapshot]

But personal touch is something that is sorely missing in those fast details.

This is what it`s all about! The detailing! If I have permission I may use this statement under my post as inspiring words.